Stopper or cork and method of making the same



' H. F. BUSCH STOPPER OR' CORK AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAME Oct. 26 1926.

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Filed July 21 1924 Patented Octs 26, 1926. l i

UNITED STTES incassa Parana raies.

HERMAN F. BUSCH, 0F MILLVALE, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 ARMSTRONG CORK Y COMANY, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

STOPPER OR CORK AND METHOD OF MAKING THE SAINTE.

Application filed July 21,

The present invention relates broadly to closures for receptacles, and more particu larly to so called Stoppers or corks for bottles or jars and to a method of making the 5 same.

There is a growing demand for stoppers or corks of the nature herein contemplated capable of being embossed 0r otherwise provided with indicia indicating the manufaclU turer, quality of the goods, or the like. It

has been found that composite stoppcrs having a compressed wooden disk and a cork secured thereto are generally unsatisfactory due to the prevalent custom among bottlers 15 of soaking the corks. This soaking not only permits the disks to expand to their normal condition thereby substantially obliterating any indicia which they may have carried, but frequently results in loosening the corks. `With certain goods there is a necessity of effecting as tight a closure as possible, whereby evaporation, contamination or injury to the goods is prevented. Frequently a sufficiently tight closure cannot be produced by the use of acork only, due to imperfections either in the cork or in the neck of the bottle or i ar.

The present invention not only provides a stopper or cork permitting the addition of such indicia as may be desired, but also one which is substantially indestructible, relatively inexpensive, and capable of effecting a tight closure.

In the accompanying drawings there are shown for purposes of illustration only certain preferred embodiments of the present invention together with one means admirably adapted for effecting the assembly of the corks, it being understood that the drawings do not define the limits of my invention as changes in the construction and operation disclosed therein may be made without departing either from the spirit of the invention or the scope of my broader claims.

In the drawings,

Figure l is an exploded view illustrating the sheathing, the cork and annulus in position to be assembled, the sheathing having an adhesive substance therein;

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view through the parts after assembly, but before compression of the annulus;

Figure 3 is a view similar' to Figure 2 illustrating the parts after compression of the annulus;

1,924. serial No. 727,167.

Figures l and 5 are views similar to Figures 2 and 3 respectively but illustrating a thinner annulus;

Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through the upper portion .of a bottle having a stopper constructed in accordance with Figure 3 in position therein, and

Figure 7 is a vertical sectional view through one form of plunger and die suitable for holding, compressing, and assembling the parts.

It has heretofore been proposed in the art to which the present invention relates to con struct stoppers having a central cork with a surrounding annulus either with or without a metal sheathing. Ordinarily, however, the coi-ks and annuli employed in connection therewith have been of different material, the annuli usually not being of material permitting substantial compression or capable of effecting any substantial sealing. It is one of the objects of the present invention to construct a stopper in which the annulus possesses the characteristics not only permitting it to be compressed but able adhesive as indicated at 6 may bev placed within the sheathing and the cork 4 then placed in position with its larger end in engagement with the adhesive. Thereafter the annulus 5 is forced downwardly over the cork serving not only to center the cork but to preliminarily hold the same in position within the sheathing. In the fig ures of the drawing referred to, the annulus 5 has a thickness slightly greater than the depth of the cup shaped sheathing, whereby a portion of the annulus projects above the edge 7 of the sheathing to forni a sealing surface 8. After the parts have been brought into the assembled relationship shown in Figure 2 the assembly may be placed within a suitable die 9 serving to center the sheathing. Thereafter a central plunger 10, conveniently urged downwardly by a spring l1 is brought into contact with the smaller' end of the cork, and an intertra llt) mediate sleeve l2 normally urged downwardly by a spring 13 is brought into contact with the sealing surface 8 of the annulus 5. Thereafter ,the outer sleeve or plunger 14 is lowered in any desired manner to bring its inclined crimping surface 15 into engagement with the sheathing and crimp it inwardly from a position shown in Figure Q, to that shown in Figure 3. This not only tends to lock the annulus in position, but compresses it inwardly against the cork l and together with the adhesive 6 effectively/f resists separation or removal of the cork.

In accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention the cork i will be made in accordance with the present standard practice while the annulus 5 will conveniently comprise a body of either natural or artificial cork or other compressible material capable of contacting with the upper edge of a bottle or jar neck to 'form a closure therefor.

In Figures A and 5 there is illustrated a slightly modified embodiment of my invention in which the parts corresponding' to parts heretofore described are designated by the same reference characters lniving a prime added thereto. In this modified showing, the annulus 5 has a thickness equal to or less than the depth of the cup shaped sheathing 2 whereby when the parts are compressed into the position shown in Figure 5 the metal sheathing will substantially in` close the entire edge of the annulus.

In caps as usually constructed, there is a slight conveXity to the upper portion of the cap. Preferably the sheathing 2 will have a similar configuration whereby this convexity forms a small recess for the distribution of the adhesive material 6.

The advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a stopper comprising a cork and a compressed annulus cooperating therewith and surrounding the cork.

Further advantages of the present invention arise from the provision of a stopper of the character referred to having a protective sheathing adapted to carry suitable advertising or descriptive indicia.

I claim:

l. As an article of manufacture, a compressible stopper, a compressible annulus surrounding the same, and a means for holding a portion of said stopper and the annulus in a state of compression.

2. As an article of manufacture, a cork stopper, an annulus of compressible material surrounding the same, and a cup shaped metal sheathing maintaining the annulus and a portion of the stopper in a state of compression.

3. As an article of manufacture, av stopper comprising a sealing cork and a cork annulus surrounding the same, and means for holding a aortion of said sealing cork and the annulus under compression. v

4t. As an article of manufacture, a stoppe comprising a sealing cork, a cork annulus surrounding a portion of the sealing cork, a cup shaped sheathing holding said annulus and a portion of a sealing cork in a state of compression and an adhesive between the sealing cork and the sheathing.

5. As an article of manufacture, a stopper comprising a compressible plug, a compressible annulus surrounding the plug, and a cup shaped sheathing having its flange pressed against the annulus to secure the parts together, the greatest pressure being exerted on the annulus and plug in a plane of the sheathing near the lower edge of the liange of the sheathing.

HERIIAN F. BUSCH. 

